Parabiosis assembly

ABSTRACT

A parabiosis assembly for bringing about exchange of blood between a pair of beings. The arterial system of one being is interconnected with the venous system of the other being while the arterial system of this other being is interconnected with the venous system of the one being. The interconnecting structure provides for flow of a given quantity of blood from the arterial system to the venous system whereupon the cycle is repeated. The only force relied upon to move the blood between the beings is the pressure of the blood itself in the arterial systems, so that the use of pumps or other flow-producing devices is not required.

United States Patent Oses [4 1 May 2,1972

[54] PARABIOSIS ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Placldo R. Oses, Fahey MedicalCenter,

581 Golf Road, Des P1aines,1l1. 60016 [22] Filed: July 16, 1969 [21]App1.No.: 842,155

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.608,190, Jan. 9,

1967, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..128/214 B, 128/214.2 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6lm 05/00 [58]Field ofSearch ..128/214, 214.2

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1927 Aguilar ..128/2 14.25/1935 Harris ..128/214.2 1/1953 Salisbury ..l28/214.2

2,625,933 1/ 1953 Salisbury ..128/214.2 3,098,480 7/1963 Worthington...

3,228,397 l/1966 Moss ..128/2i4 Primary Examiner-Dalton 1.. TruluckAttorney-Steinberg & Blake [57] ABSTRACT A parabiosis assembly forbringing about exchange of blood between a pair of beings. The arterialsystem of one being is interconnected with the venous system of theother being while the arterial system of this other being isinterconnected with the venous system of the one being. Theinterconnecting structure provides for flow of a given quantity of bloodfrom the arterial system to the venous system whereupon the cycle isrepeated. The only force relied upon to move the blood between thebeings is the pressure of the blood itself in the arterial systems, sothat the use of pumps or other flow-producing devices is not required. 7

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,503

2 Sheets-Sheet l CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This applicationis a continuation-in-part of abandoned application Ser. No. 608,190,filed Jan. 9, I967 and entitled DEVICE FOR VOLUMETRICALLY REGULATINGEXCHANGE OF BLOOD.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an assemblyfor permitting parabiosis, or in other words the mutual exchange ofblood between a pair of beings.

While there are known assemblies for exchanging the blood between a pairof beings, suchknownassemblies are relatively complex and expensive.They invariably require flow-producing devices such as pumps, vacuumchambers, and the like to propel blood from one prospectus, or'being,into the other. Because of the presence of these flow-producing devicesand the requirement of controlling the latter the known assemblies areboth complex and expensive.

Moreover, it is difficult to operate-such known assemblies continuouslyfor any desired length of time. Also, the known structures are difficultto manufacture and are difficult to sterilize. Great care must beexercised to maintain the highest degree of safety during operation ofthe known devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a parabiosis assembly which will avoid theabove drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an assemblyof this type which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture while at thesame time being easily sterilized and capable of operation with absolutesafety.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a parabiosisassembly which can provide continuousoperation according to which thetwo beings, whether human beings or animals, can be placed in parabiosisfor hours, days, or weeks.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide an assemblyof this type which does not require the use of any pumps, vacuumchambers, or other types of flow-producing devices.

According to the invention a first interconnecting means interconnectsthe arterial system of one being with the venous system of the otherbeing while a second interconnecting meansinterconnects the arterialsystem of the other being with the venous system of the one being. Eachinterconnecting means receives a given quantity of blood from anarterial system before delivering it to the venous system, thisreceiving of a quantity of blood from an arterial system and deliveringthe latter quantity to the venous system forming one cycle ofoperations. These cycles are carried out repeatedly and continuouslywithout interruption. According to the invention the blood is propelledonly with the pressure in the arterial system so that the use of pumpsor other flow-producing devices is not required, thus enabling theentire assembly to be maintained simple and easy to manufacture as wellas easy to sterilize while being capable of operation with absolutesafety. Moreover, this assembly can be maintained in continuousoperation, with two individuals remaining in parabiosis for hours, days,or even weeks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is schematically illustratedin the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a parabiosis assembly of theinvention shown operatively connected with a pair of beings in the formof animals in the illustrated example, although it is to be understoodthat these animals could as well be human beings; and I FIG. 2 is anillustration of the electrical circuitry forming the control means ofthe illustrated invention.

DESCRIPTION OF-A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring'to .FIG. 1, a pair ofbeings X and Y are schematically represented as being placed inparabiosis with the assembly 10 of the present invention. In theillustrated example the pair of beings X and Y maybe dogs, rabbits, orthe like, although they could as well be human beings. The parabiosisassembly 10 of the invention includes an interconnecting means 12connected to the arterial system of being X and to the venous system ofbeing Y, as well as an interconnecting means 14 connected to thearterial system of being Y and to the venous system of being X.

The pair of interconnecting means 12 and 14 are identical except fortheir interconnections with the pair of beings. Thus,

the interconnecting means 12 includes a needle or catheter A1 connectedin a known way with the arterial system of being X, while theinterconnecting means 14 includes a needle or catheter A2 connected withthe arterial system of being Y. The interconnecting means 12 includes aneedle or catheter V1 connected with the venous system of being Y, whilethe interconnecting means 14 includes a needle or catheter V2 connectedwith the venous system of being X. These needles respectivelycommunicate with flexible tubular members 16, 18, 20, and 22 asillustrated in FIG. 1, these flexible tubular members forming parts ofvalve means which are capable of being opened and closed in a mannerdescribed below.

The pair of resilient flexible tubular portions 16 and 18 respectivelyform extensions of a pair of opposed open ends of a horizontal branch 24of an inverted T-shaped tube which has a vertical branch 26communicating with the horizontal branch 24 between the ends thereofwhich respectively communicate with the flexible tubular extensions 16and 18. The top end 28 of the vertical branch 26 of the inverted T-tubeis closed. In the same way the interconnecting means 14 includes ahorizontal tubular branch 30 having opposed open ends communicating withthe flexible tubular portions 20 and 22 whichform extensions of thehorizontal branch 30. This branch 30 communicates with a vertical branch32 which is closed at its top end 34, so that the interconnecting means14 is identical with the .interconnecting means 10. This tubularstructure which forms the pair of inverted T-tubes is transparent andmay be made of glass or a suitable transparent plastic.

The four valve means 36, 38, 40, and 42 are all identical so that onlythe valve means 36 will be described in detail. This valve means 36includes a valve operating member 44 which is substantially rigid andhas the configuration of part of a sphere. It is carried by a lever 46supported for swinging movement intermediate its ends by a pivot 48. Aspring 50 acts on the lever 46 to urge the valve means 36 to its openposition. At the side of the pivot 48 opposite from the sphericalclosure member 44 a solenoid S1 acts on the lever 46 to swing the latterin a counterclockwise direction away from a stop 52, as viewed in FIG.1, in order to close the valve means 36 when the solenoid S1 isenergized. When the solenoid S1 is unenergizcd the spring 50 acts toopen the valve means 36. The remaining valve means include the solenoidsS2, S4, and S3, respectively, which operate in the same way inopposition to springs which act to urge the several valve means to theiropen positions, respectively.

Considering the interconnecting means 12, during flow of blood from thearterial system of being X to the venous system of being Y the valvemeans 38 will initially be closed by energizing the solenoid S2 whilethe valve means 36 will initially be open with the solenoid S1unenergized. The result is that blood will flow, solely under thepressure of the blood in the arterial system of being X into theinterconnecting means 12 and up the vertical branch 26, air beingcompressed in the vertical branch between the blood and the top closedend 28 of the vertical branch, but of course this air cannot enter intothe systems of the beings-as will be apparent from the descriptionbelow.

In order to detect when the blood in the vertical branch 26 has reacheda given elevation, a photocell PCl is provided at a selected elevationalong the vertical branch 26. As long as the blood has not reached theelevation of the photocell PC1 the photocell is energized. However, whenthe blood reaches the elevation of this photocell PC1 the energizingthereof is interrupted. This photocell forms part of a control meanswhich includes the solenoid S1 so as to energize the latter and closethe valve 36 when the blood reaches the elevation of the photocell PC1.At the same time the control means acts to deenergize the solenoid S2 ofthe control means so as to open the valve 38, and now the blood willflow by gravity back down the vertical branch 26 and into the venoussystem of being Y. This operation will continue until the blood in thevertical branch 26 reaches a lower elevation determined by the positionof a lower photocell PC2 along the vertical branch 26, as indicated inFIG. 1. When the blood flows below the elevation of the lower photocellPC2 of the control means, this latter photocell becomes energized tobring about energizing of the solenoid S2 and deenergizing of thesolenoid S1, so that now the above cycle of operations are repeated andblood flow into the venous system of being Y is terminated while bloodflow out of the arterial system of being X again starts until the bloodreaches the elevation of photocell PCl.

FIG. 2- illustrates the electrical circuitry of the control means. Thestructure is connected between the lines L1 and L2. Between the linesthe photocell PCl is connected in series with a relay coil RA, and thiscoil will become energized when there is no blood at the elevation ofthe photocell PCl. In the same way the lower photocell PC2 is connectedin series with a relay coil RB which becomes energized only when thereis no blood at the elevation of the lower photocell PC2. The solenoid S1is controlled by the relay switch RA1 which is normally closed by thespring 60 and which is maintained open in opposition to the spring 60whenever the coil RA is energized. When the switch RA1 closes a circuitto a second relay coil RC is closed to energize this coil and close anormally open relay switch RC1 in opposition to a spring which urgesthis latter switch to its open position. The circuit includes also aswitch RBI which is normally closed and which is controlled by the relaycoil RB so as to be opened in opposition to a spring urging this switchRBI to its closed position whenever the coil RB is energized. I

The solenoid S2 is controlled by a switch RB2 which is urged to itsnormally open position by a spring 62 and which is closed in oppositionto thisspring whenever the coil RB is energized. At the same time aswitch will close to energize a fourth relay coil RD which will bringabout closing of a normally open switch RDl. In series with the switchRDl is a switch RA2 which is normally open and which is maintainedclosed whenever the coil RA is energized.

FIG. 2 also illustrates a master switch 64 which is closed whenever theentire system is set into operation and which is opened when theassembly is to have its operation terminated.

The above-described structure operates in the following manner:

In order to begin the operations both of the identical interconnectingmeans 12 and 14 are properly sterilized. This operation is easy to carryout because of the simplicity of the assembly. The insides of the tubes,including the flexible tubular extensions, which maybe polyethylene, forexample, the needles, and other connections, are coated with a suitablesubstance such as silicone to prevent the blood from clotting,agglutinating, or the like. The blood of the prospecti may or may not berendered incoaguable by administering substances such as heparin,dicoumarol, etc., as needed. Both of the interconnecting means are thenpurged with physiological solutions such as saline, blood, or the like,so that when the exchange of blood begins there will be no free airinside the system. Of course, the air compressed in the upper part ofthe 'vertical "branches of the inverted T-tubes will not enter into thesystems of the prospecti so that this air is not free air in the truesense since it cannot ,tlow down beyond the lower photocell PC2.

The prospecti X and Y are then connected into the system by the usualmeans, so that the arterial system of being X is connected to the inletend of the horizontal branch 24 while the venous system of the being Yis connected to the outlet end of the horizontal branch 24.

The operator will initially manually maintain the switch RA1 open whileclosing the master switch 64. Initially there will be no blood in thevertical branch 26 so that both of the photocells PCI and PC2 areenergized, thus energizing both of the coils RA and RB. The energizingof the coil RA maintains the switch RA1 open in opposition to the spring60, and thus the solenoid S1 is unenergized and the valve 36 is in itsopen position. At the same time the energizing of the lower photocellPC2 energizes the coil RB so as to ,close the normally open switch RB2.The result is that the solenoid S2 becomes energized and the valve 38 isclosed. The energizing of the coil RB also opens the normally closedswitch RBI, but this has no effect on the solenoid 51 since the coil RCis unenergized and the switch RC1 is in its normally open position. Theclosing of the switch RB2 energizes the coil RD so as to close thenormally open switch RD] and at this time since the coil RA is energizedthe normally open switch RA2 is also closed, so that the branch of thecircuit which includes the coil RD and the switches RDl and RA2 is alsoclosed.

The result is that the blood will flow into the interconnecting means 12up the branch 26 until it reaches the elevation of the lower photocellPC2 so that the coil RB will become unenergized. At this time the switchRB2 will assume its normally open position, but the solenoid S2 willremain energized because of the closed switches RD! and RA2. The bloodcontinues to rise up the branch 26 until it reaches the elevation of theupper photocell PC1. Then this photocell is interrupted by the blood sothat the coil RA becomes deenergized.

This operation terminates the initial phase of each cycle when blood isreceived from the arterial system. The deenergizing of the coil RApermits the switch RA1 to assume its normally closed position, thusenergizing the solenoid S1 and closing the valve 36. At the same timethe switch RA2 will assume its normally open position, thus deenergizingthe solenoid S2 and permitting the valve 38 to assume its open position.The closing of the switch RA1 energizes the coil RC so as to close theswitch RC1, and the normally closed switch RBI is already in its closedposition because the coil RB is unenergized as long as the blood is atthe elevation of the lower photocell PC2 or higher. Therefore, when theblood flows down below the photocell PC1 into the venous system of thebeing Y, under influence of gravity, as well as the pressure of theaircompressed at the top of the branch 26, the photocell PCl will againbecome energized to energize the coil RA, thus opening the normallyclosed switch RA1, but the solenoid S1 will remain energized because ofthe closed switches RC1 and RBI.

Now the second phase of each cycle will continue with the blood flowingdownwardly out of the branch 26 along the horizontal branch 24 throughthe open valve 38 into the venous system of the other being Y.

As soon as the blood reaches the elevation of the lower photocell PC2 soas to then flow slightly below the latter this photocell will becomeenergized so as to energize the coil RB.

The result is that the switch RB2 is closed in opposition to the spring62 thus energizing the solenoid S2 so as to close the valve 38 and thusterminate this cycle. At the same time the normally closed switch R81 isopened, so that the energizing of the solenoid S1 terminates and thevalve 36 assumes its open position, thus initiating the next cycle, andin this way these cycles are continuously carried out withoutinterruption from one cycle to the next.

It is apparent that at each cycle a given quantity of blood is deliveredfrom the arterial system of one being into the venous system of theother being.

The interconnecting means 14 operates precisely in the same way as theinterconnecting means 12 and simultaneously with the latter, the onlydifierence being that the blood flows from the arterial system of beingY into the venous system of being X. The various photocells, solenoids,valves, and the electrical circuitry form a pair of control means, onefor the interconnecting means 12 and the other for the interconnectingmeans 14. Each control means provides for the interconnecting means towhich it is operatively connected a cycle of operations-according towhich first a quantity of blood is received from an arterial system andthen the quantity of blood is delivered to a venous system before againbeing received from the arterial system during the next cycle.

Furthermore, it is to be noted that the pair of interconnecting means 12and 14 and the pair of control means respectively connected operativelythereto are completely independent'of each other so that the operatingcycles during which blood flows from the arterial system of one being tothe venous system of the other take place completely independently ofand without any relation whatsoever to the operating cycles during whichthe flow of blood takes place from the arterial system of this otherbeing back to the one being.

It is to be noted in particular that there are no pumps or otherflow-producing devices with the structure of the invention. The blood ispropelled solely by the pressure of the blood in the arterial systems ofthe beings.

Suitable bracing members 70 interconnect and hold the pair ofinterconnecting means 12 and 14 at a given position relative to eachother where they are properly aligned, and the assembly may be placed onany suitable table or the like between the pair of beings X and Y.

Thus, the above-described assembly of the invention permits continuousoperation and two individuals or other beings may be placed inparabiosis for hours, days, weeks, etc. The apparatus is easy tomanufacture and easy to sterilize and also is absolutely safe tooperate.

What is claimed is:

1. In an assembly for exchanging blood between a pair of beings, firstinterconnecting means for interconnecting the arterial system of onebeing with the venous system of the other being and for directing bloodfrom said one being only under the pressure of the blood in said onebeing to the venous system of said other being, second interconnectingmeans for interconnecting the arterial system of said other being withthe venous system of said one being and for directing the blood from thearterial system of said other being only under the pressure of the bloodof said other being to the venous system of said one being, each of saidinterconnecting means consisting only of tubing into and out of whichblood can freely flow, whereby the flow of blood between said beingstakes place without requiring the use of pumps or other flow-producingdevices, and a pair of control means respectively connected with saidfirst and second interconnecting means for cyclically controlling theflow of blood through each interconnecting means according to cyclesduring each of which a quantity of blood is first received in eachinterconnecting means from an arterial system and then delivered to avenous system before a quantity of blood is again received from thearterial system during the next cycle, and each control means andinterconnecting means to which it is operatively connected beingcompletely independent of and having no timed relation with respect tothe other control means and interconnecting means to which said othercontrol means is operatively connected, so that the flow of blood fromthe arterial system of one being to the venous system of the other beingtakes place independently of but without any synchronizationsimultaneously with the flow of blood from the arterial system of saidother being to said one being, whereby over a period of time the totalquantity of blood transferred from one being to the other may bedifferent from the total quantity of blood transferred from the otherbeing to said one being. 7

. 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein each of said interconnectingmeans includes a tube of inverted T configuration having a horizontalbranch provided with opposed inlet and outlet ends and a vertical branchextending upwardly from said horizontal branch and situated between theends thereof, said inlet end of said horizontal branch of said first interconnecting means communicating with the arterial system 1 of said onebeing and said outlet end of said horizontal branch of said firstinterconnecting means communicating with the venous system of said otherbeing, said inlet end of said horizontal branch of said secondinterconnecting means com- 'municating with the arterial'system of saidother being and said outlet endof said horizontal branch of said secondinterconnecting means communicating with the venous system of said onebeing, said pair of control means including four valve meansrespectively connected operatively with the two inlet ends and the twooutlet ends of said horizontal branches for opening and closing thesame, and each control means coacting with each interconnecting meansfor closing the valve means at its outlet end and simultaneously openingthe valve means at its inlet end until the blood rises to a givenelevation in the vertical branch whereupon said control means closes thevalve means at the inlet end of said interconnecting means and opens thevalve means at the outlet end of said horizontal branch until the bloodin said vertical branch reaches a given lower elevation whereupon acycle ends and a new cycle begins with closing of the valve means at theoutlet end and opening of the valve means at the inlet end until theblood again reaches said upper elevation in said vertical branch.

3. The-combination of claim 2 and wherein said vertical branches eachhas a closed top end so that air is compressed in each vertical branchby the blood rising in the latter.

4. The combination of claim 2 and wherein each valve means includes aflexible resilient tubular portion forming an extension of thehorizontal branch and a closure member having the configuration of atleast part of a sphere and displaced into engagement with said flexibletubular portion for closing the latter in order to close the valve meanswhile being displaced away from said flexible tubular member for openingthe valve means.

5 The combination of claim 2 and wherein a pair of photocells areoperatively connected with each ,vertical branch at said upper and lowerelevations, said control means including in addition to said photocellssolenoids operatively connected with said valve means for respectivelyoperating the latter, and an electrical. circuit interconnecting saidphotocells with said solenoids for actuating the latter to open andclose said valve means to bring about the cyclical flow of blood firstfrom an arterial system into the vertical branch up to said upperelevation and then out of the vertical branch into the interconnectedvenous system while terminating the flow of blood from the arterialsystem until the blood in the vertical branch reaches said lowerelevation, whereupon the cycle is repeated.

1. In an assembly for exchanging blood between a pair of beings, firstinterconnecting means for interconnecting the arterial system of onebeing with the venous system of the other being and for directing bloodfrom said onE being only under the pressure of the blood in said onebeing to the venous system of said other being, second interconnectingmeans for interconnecting the arterial system of said other being withthe venous system of said one being and for directing the blood from thearterial system of said other being only under the pressure of the bloodof said other being to the venous system of said one being, each of saidinterconnecting means consisting only of tubing into and out of whichblood can freely flow, whereby the flow of blood between said beingstakes place without requiring the use of pumps or other flow-producingdevices, and a pair of control means respectively connected with saidfirst and second interconnecting means for cyclically controlling theflow of blood through each interconnecting means according to cyclesduring each of which a quantity of blood is first received in eachinterconnecting means from an arterial system and then delivered to avenous system before a quantity of blood is again received from thearterial system during the next cycle, and each control means andinterconnecting means to which it is operatively connected beingcompletely independent of and having no timed relation with respect tothe other control means and interconnecting means to which said othercontrol means is operatively connected, so that the flow of blood fromthe arterial system of one being to the venous system of the other beingtakes place independently of but without any synchronizationsimultaneously with the flow of blood from the arterial system of saidother being to said one being, whereby over a period of time the totalquantity of blood transferred from one being to the other may bedifferent from the total quantity of blood transferred from the otherbeing to said one being.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein eachof said interconnecting means includes a tube of inverted Tconfiguration having a horizontal branch provided with opposed inlet andoutlet ends and a vertical branch extending upwardly from saidhorizontal branch and situated between the ends thereof, said inlet endof said horizontal branch of said first interconnecting meanscommunicating with the arterial system of said one being and said outletend of said horizontal branch of said first interconnecting meanscommunicating with the venous system of said other being, said inlet endof said horizontal branch of said second interconnecting meanscommunicating with the arterial system of said other being and saidoutlet end of said horizontal branch of said second interconnectingmeans communicating with the venous system of said one being, said pairof control means including four valve means respectively connectedoperatively with the two inlet ends and the two outlet ends of saidhorizontal branches for opening and closing the same, and each controlmeans coacting with each interconnecting means for closing the valvemeans at its outlet end and simultaneously opening the valve means atits inlet end until the blood rises to a given elevation in the verticalbranch whereupon said control means closes the valve means at the inletend of said interconnecting means and opens the valve means at theoutlet end of said horizontal branch until the blood in said verticalbranch reaches a given lower elevation whereupon a cycle ends and a newcycle begins with closing of the valve means at the outlet end andopening of the valve means at the inlet end until the blood againreaches said upper elevation in said vertical branch.
 3. The combinationof claim 2 and wherein said vertical branches each has a closed top endso that air is compressed in each vertical branch by the blood rising inthe latter.
 4. The combination of claim 2 and wherein each valve meansincludes a flexible resilient tubular portion forming an extension ofthe horizontal branch and a closure member having the configuration ofat least part of a sphere and displaced into engagement with saidflexible tubular portIon for closing the latter in order to close thevalve means while being displaced away from said flexible tubular memberfor opening the valve means.
 5. The combination of claim 2 and wherein apair of photocells are operatively connected with each vertical branchat said upper and lower elevations, said control means including inaddition to said photocells solenoids operatively connected with saidvalve means for respectively operating the latter, and an electricalcircuit interconnecting said photocells with said solenoids foractuating the latter to open and close said valve means to bring aboutthe cyclical flow of blood first from an arterial system into thevertical branch up to said upper elevation and then out of the verticalbranch into the interconnected venous system while terminating the flowof blood from the arterial system until the blood in the vertical branchreaches said lower elevation, whereupon the cycle is repeated.